Howard Gatiss
TRUSTEE
Howard Gatiss grew up in York and graduated in Economics from Trinity College, Cambridge. His career in the energy industry has given him the opportunity to live in countries as diverse as Colombia, Vietnam, China and Ireland. He was for fifteen years a Trustee of Saigon Children’s Charity (SCC), the last seven years as Chairman. SCC is a small charity which works to alleviate poverty in Vietnam by trying to ensure that all children have access to full-time education. His interest in opera was kindled by seeing Monteverdi’s L’Incoronazione di Poppea whilst still at school. He is on the Board of Opera North and Irish National Opera and a strong supporter of Sarasota Opera (Florida) and, in the UK, Garsington, Longborough, Regents Opera, Hurn Court Opera and the Ryedale Festival. Travel to these houses contributes to the 90 or so operas he sees each year.
Giles Bethule
TRUSTEE
Giles joined our Board of Trustees in May 2023. His enthusiasm for opera was sparked by seeing a performance of Pelléas et Mélisande in 2018. He first came to Waterperry in 2021 and was bowled over by its mission and vision. A PR specialist by profession, Giles is an Associate Director at FGS Global – a premier strategic communications firm – where he advises public and private companies on M&A, IPOs, crises, litigation, internal communications, and corporate positioning. He founded Cast & Lane, a fashion company focused on elegant casual wear for men, in 2021 and has built a strong and engaged community of customers spanning some 20 countries globally. Giles holds a bachelor’s degree in Law from the London School of Economics, where he graduated as a Simon Morris Scholar and winner of several mooting competitions.
Judith Tew
TRUSTEE/CHAIRMAN
Judith graduated in Mathematics from Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. She is a Chartered Accountant with a broad range of experience in a variety of leadership roles in Finance, Banking and Insurance. After qualification as an accountant in London with PwC, she pursued a Finance career with HSBC UK where she was Group Chief Accountant. She spent over 15 years working in the insurance industry, in AXA, as Risk & Compliance Director and Development & Change Director for AXA Health. In addition to her commercial roles at AXA, Judith was mentor to the AXA graduate scheme. Judith’s passion for opera dates back to childhood and she has been a keen supporter and regular opera goer ever since. In addition to opera, Judith’s main interests are in music more broadly, theatre, education and the environment. She is Governor of a Kent grammar school, Director of a Kent theatre and Deputy Chair of the Oxford University Alumni Board. Judith lives in Kent with her husband and has two grown-up children.
Alicia Hunt
MARKETING MANAGER
Having been introduced to the world of opera and classical music at a very young age as a chorister at Canterbury Cathedral, Alicia is delighted to now be working within the field and with such an exciting organisation. As Marketing Manager, she engages with both returning and new audiences, whether digitally or in person, and is passionate about promoting accessible opera to all generations. Currently studying for a Masters in Musicology, Alicia has sung with several ensembles including The Choir of Royal Holloway, Oxford Bach Soloists and The Raven Opera Company, most recently playing Dido in Dido and Aeneas. In 2023, Alicia co-founded vocal ensemble Hemiola, and the group are excited to be touring throughout 2025/26 at various venues and choir festivals. In her spare time, she enjoys running and trying new recipes for her family.
Amy Farrant
MARKETING CONSULTANT
For over 25 years, Amy has worked in global events and touring, having worked on various brands, concerts, festivals and tours for the world’s largest entertainment companies. Most recently she served as CMO at BBC Earth Experience, KOKO and Secret Cinema. Previous companies include Live Nation, Disney and AEG Live.
Imogen Baker
AUDIENCE OPERATIONS MANAGER
Imogen Baker is the Audience and Engagement Manager at the Waterperry Opera Festival. She is dedicated to creating inclusive and welcoming experiences for audiences of all backgrounds. A passionate advocate for accessible music-making, Imogen brings her experience as a performer and educator to her work, fostering connections between audiences and opera. She balances this role with advanced opera studies at the Swiss Opera Studio in Biel, Switzerland, and an active singing career, with highlights including performances at Wigmore Hall and the Italian Cultural Institute in London and collaborations with Glyndebourne Opera Lab and the Royal Academy of Music’s Opera Makers programme. Imogen looks forward to continuing her work with Waterperry’s audiences throughout the 2025 Season.
Jack Boissieux
PRODUCTION & OPERATIONS CONSULTANT
Jack runs a production management company working across theatre, opera, dance, musicals and events. He has worked on national and international touring productions, West End musicals and immersive / site specific theatre. Recent and current credits include The Choir Of Man (West End and International Touring), Bluey's Big Play (International Touring), Head Of Production @ Waterperry Opera Festival, Pied Piper (National Touring), How To Win Against History (National Tour), Weather Girl (Soho Theatre), Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen (Bush Theatre and International Touring), A Very Naughty Christmas (Southwark Playhouse, Elephant), The Show On The Roof (Kings Head Theatre), Wilko (Queen's Theatre Hornchurch), Lay Down Your Burdens (Barbican and National Touring), Lavender, Hyacinth, Violet, Yew (Bush Theatre), Lost Lending Library and A Curious Quest (Punchdrunk), Maddie Moate's Very Curious Christmas (Apollo Theatre), Berlusconi (Southwark Playhouse, Elephant), The Borrowers (Theatre By The Lake), An Improbable Musical (National Touring), Habibti Driver (Octagon Theatre), Saving Face (Curve and National Touring), LAVA (Soho Theatre and National Touring) and the Annual Fundraising Gala for the National Youth Theatre.
Ashley Beauchamp
HEAD OF MUSIC, CO- DIRECTOR OF YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMME
Ashley has worked with Waterperry Opera Festival every year since their inaugural season as a conductor, musical director, coach and repetiteur. He joined the team as Head of Music and Co-Director of the Young Artist Programme in 2022. He has worked on over 30 different productions for companies including the Royal Opera House, Glyndebourne, Garsington, Nevill Holt, Music Theatre Wales and Blackheath Halls. He is Music Director of the Glyndebourne Youth Opera programme and Thames Opera Company. Hugely passionate about music education and participation, Ashley regularly runs workshops and projects across the UK, introducing thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds to opera every year. Ashley has worked as a musical director for the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, and as a staff pianist for the Royal College of Music and Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Bertie Baigent
FESTIVAL MUSIC DIRECTOR
Bertie has been Music Director of Waterperry Opera Festival since 2017, where he has led performances ranging from mainstage operas and concerts, to children’s shows and multi-disciplinary, late night collaborations. Described as ‘a force to be reckoned with’ (Opera Magazine), he is committed to realising the expressive power of music to make opera a genre for the twenty-first century. In 2022 Bertie won the grand prix at the International Conducting Competition Rotterdam, conducting the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century. Beyond Waterperry, recent performance highlights include Glyndebourne, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Tampere Philharmonic, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Osaka Philharmonic, and Bruckner Orchester Linz among others. Bertie’s own opera Paradise Lost was premiered at Shipwright Theatre in London in 2022. Bertie read music at the University of Cambridge and completed a master’s in conducting at the Royal Academy of Music. In his spare time, Bertie enjoys cricket and cultivating his houseplants.
John Savournin
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & CEO
John is our Artistic Director and CEO. He is considered one of the most celebrated opera singers and directors of his generation, and has performed a wide range of roles for, amongst others, English National Opera, Opera North, Scottish Opera, Welsh National Opera, Opera Holland Park, Grange Festival, Garsington Opera, Nederlandse Reisopera, the BBC Proms, and Three Choirs Festival. As a director, writer, and a passionate advocate for new work and work for young people, John has created main stage productions and/or projects for, amongst others, the Royal Ballet and Opera, English National Opera, Scottish Opera, Opera North, Opera Holland Park, the BBC, CBBC and Charles Court Opera, of which he has been the co-founder and Artistic Director for 20 years.
He was a finalist in the ‘Rising Talent’ category at the International Opera Awards 2022. John enjoys long walks with his partner, and is father to a beautiful black cat named Grisabella.